Trigger mechanism and safety device therefor



E. ,E. MILLER. TRIGGER MECHANISM AND SAFETY DEVICE THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED mm: [2, 1920.

1,355,779, I Patented 00t.26,1920;

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. E. MILLER.

TRIGGER MECHANISM AND SAFETY DEVICE THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1920 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 26,1920.-

ELMER n. MILLER, or SACRAMENTO,

PENNSYLVANIA.

TRIGGER MECHANISM AND SAFETY DEVICE THEREFOR.

Application filed June 12,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELMER E. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trig ger Mechanism and Safety Devices Therefor, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved trigger mechanism and safety device therefor for double barrel firing arms in general and particularly for shot guns, and an object is to provide a trigger mechanism which is simple, efiicient and practical in construction, and wherein only one trigger is employed for actuating the hammers of both barrels.

Another object is to provide an improved safety device for the single trigger of said mechanism to prevent operation of the trigger until it'is desired to actuate the same, and in this case the safety device can be moved so that either one of the barrels may be actuated. p

Still another object is to provide a device of this kind wherein provision of means is afiorded for indicating whether the safety device is set at safety, or for firing either the right or the left barrel of the gun.

lVhile the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth is deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible to changes, and the right to these changes is claimed,'provided they are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed;

J The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed. e

In the drawings V Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the breech casing ofa gun showing parts broken away showing the improved trigger mechanism as applied illustrating the safety device set to prevent the mechanism from being actuated for either the right or the left barrel, v

Fig. 2 is a view inside elevation of a portion of the breech casing of the gun showing the parts broken away; and illustrating the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

1920. Serial No. 388,463.

trigger mechanism in elevation, and showing the safety device as having been moved, whereby the trigger may be actuated for firing the left hand barrel,

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the breech casing of the gun, showiug the trigger mechanism in elevation, and illustrating the safety device as having been ?iet,1whereby the right hand'barrel may be rec, V

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View through the trigger mechanism at a point in front of the swivel member, showing the position of said member after the right hand barrel has been fired,

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the swivel member as having been completely actuated and the left hand barrel fired,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the trigger mechanism, showing the safety device and the slide and slide plate showing the position of the safety device as having been actuated for firing the left hand barrel,

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the swivel member as set in safety position to prevent the trigger from being actuated and thereby preventing either one of the barrels from being fired,

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the position of the swivel member slightly tilted to the right of one of the bevels 52 of the trigger so that the right hand barrel can be fired,

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the position of the swivel member slightly to the left of one of the bevels 52 of the trigger so that the left hand barrel can be fired, and

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the slide plate.

Fig. 11 is a detail diagrammatic view showing one position of the arm 23 in fact engaging the notch 28 of the weight 27,

Fig. 12 is a detail diagrammatic view showing the arm 23 engaging the notch 29 of the weight 27.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the breech casing of a double barrel firing arm, preferably of the shot gun type, and mounted in the casing are the right and left hammers 2 and 3. Also mounted in the casing are the right and left hammer retaining sears 4L and 5 which are under tension of the springs 49 and 5 Rising up from the lower part 7 of the breech casing is a swivel support on which the sear operating swivel 8 is pivotally mounted as at 9. The sear operating swivel is provided with right and left hand arms 10 and 11 and the depending leg 13 of the swivel is provided with a bifurcation 12. The right hand arm 10 of the sear operating swivel is provided with an aperture 14.

' Pivotally mounted in the breech casing as at 16 is a trigger 15 which is provided with a swivel retaining arm 17. For instance, the pivot of the sear operating swivel is not headed or swaged and in order to retain the sear operating swivel on the pivot 9, the arm 17 is provided in order to alwaysretarn the swivel in position on the pivot. This arm 17 is disposed in a relatively close position to the swivel when the trigger is in its normal position and when actuated, the upper part of the arm moves closer to the swivel as it is obvious that when the trigger is actuated the swivel tends to move off its pivot, hence the provision of the arm 17, therefore, when the trigger is actuated and the upper part of the arm moves toward the swivel, the arm will act to maintain the swivel on its pivot, in other words, will act to push the swivel back on the pivot.

The trigger 15 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 18, which terminates in an upwardly extending lug 19. A transverse pin 20 is mounted on the lug 19 and is provided with an enlargement 21 on one end. A support 22 is fixed in any suitable manner upon the lower part of the breech casing and pivoted thereon as at 24 is an arm 23 which is provided with a slot 25, which receives the enlarged end of the pin 20.

- It will be noted that when the trigger is pulled or actuated, the rearwardly extending arm of the trigger will so move that the enlarged end 21 of the pin 20 will move in the slot 25 of the arm 23. Also mounted on the lower part of the breech casing is an upright 26 on which a detent weight 27 is pivoted. This weight is bifurcated in' order to straddle the upright 26 thereby more efiiciently pivoting the weight at 26 to the upright. The weight 27 is provided with up per and lower notches 28 and 29 either one of which being adapted to be engaged by the free end of the arm 23.

A safety device 30 is pivoted at 48 on the upright and also pivoted at 32 on the up right is a spring element 31. One arm 33 of the spring element 31 engages the aperture 14 in the sear operating swivel while the other spring arm 34 of the element engages an opening 35 formed. in an car 36 of the safety device. The lower end 37 of the safety device engages a notch 37 of the lug 19 of the rearwardly extending arm 18 of the trigger. A slide 38 for actuating the safety device is provided. This slide operates in the slots 39 and 39 in other words is guidec in its movement forwardly and rearwardly.

' pin 40 and secured at 42 to the under part of the upper wall of the breech casing is a leaf spring 41. The leaf spring is provided with a pair of arms 43 which straddle the slide. The arms 43 of the leaf spring are provided with a plurality of notches 44, 45 and 46 adapted to engage the opposite end portions of the transverse pin 40, in order to hold the slide in safety position or in'position for firing either the right or the left hand barrel of the gun; The slide'38 is provided 'with a depending lug 47 having a slot 48; and 49 denotes a pin carried by the upper end of the safety device and passing through the slot 48 thereby loosely pivoting the safety device to the leg of the slide so that when the slide is moved forwardly or rearwardly the safety device may be actuated'to neutral position or to either one of the firing positions.

A spring 50 is carriedon the upright of the lower part of the breech casing and has one of its arms engaging the breech casing and the other arm engaging the smaller end of the pin 20 acting to assist the trigger in its movementv when actuated.-

A roller 51 is carried by the sear operating swivel and is mounted between the arms caused to be formed by the bifurcation 12. One edge of the trigger of that portion thereof which protrudes upwardly through the lower part of the casing and in advance of the arm 17is provided with opposite bevels 52 with either one of which the roller 51 engages.

The slide plate 53 has an upper knurled surface 54 which is designed to be engaged by the thumb of the operator in order to adjust the slide forwardly or rearwardly in order to position the safety device neutral or in either one of the firing positions. The slide plate 53 has an opening 55 at one end and etched orotherwi se applied to the outer face of the breech casing are indications 56, 57 and 58. The indication 56 is indicated by the letter S while the indication 57 consists of the letter R which indicates that when the plate 53 is moved rearwardly to expose theletter R the right hand barrel can be fired. The indication 58 consists of the letter L and when the slide plate is moved so that its opening 55 will expose the letter L it will signify that the left hand barrel may be fired.

The operation of the trigger mechanism lower end of the device is disengaged from the notch 37 on the lug 19. In this case the safety device is positioned so that the spring element 31 is disposed to cause pressure on the right hand arm 10 of the swivel, thereby disposing the roller 51 of the swivel to the right hand bevel of the edge of the trigger; In fact the roller 51 will be arranged sufficiently to the right of the edge that when the trigger is actuated the right hand arm 10 of the swivel will engage and operate the right hand sear thereby releasing and permitting the right hand hammer to 'be actuated andthe right hand barrel fired.

The safety device may then be moved forwardly to a neutral position and then farther forward until the lower end of the safety device assumes a position to the rear of the lug 19. The safety device in this position then tensions the spring element so that the spring element 33 .bears sufficiently in the aperture 14: of the arm 10 of the swivel so as to tilt the depending lug 13 to the left of the edge of the trigger in engagement with the left hand bevel of the trigger. This operation will permit the swivel to be further tilted to the left of the le t hand bevel of the edge of the trigger and therefore cause the left hand arm 11 and swivel to bear upwardly on the left hand sear from releasing and permitting the left hand hammer to actuate and fire the left hand barrel as shown in Fig. 9.

While the safety device is set for firing the left hand hammer and left hand barrel, the gun is reloaded, and in this instance the left hand barrel may be fired first and the right hand barrel can be next fired. After again reloading the gun the left of the swivel is set to the right of the edge ofthe trigger, the right hand barrel can again be fired first.

In Fig. 1, there is shown parts of the trigger mechanism and inthis view the hammers 2 are supposed to be cooked and in this case the arm 23 is in engagement with the lower end of the weight 27 and in this case the weight assumes the position shown. These positions occur before the trigger is pulled. Also these position occur when the sear operating swivel is set for operating the left hand sear and firing the left hand barrel. When the trigger is pulled and the left hand barrel fired, the arm 23 moves upwardly so that its extremity will be in a position to be engaged by the upper notch 28 of the weight as in Fig. 11. When the trigger is pulled and the left hand barrel fired, the weight oscillates forward thereby causing the upper notch 28 to engage the eX- tremity of the arm 23 thereby holding-it up, upon the rebound the weight oscillates backwardly and allows the arm 23 to oscillate 65. downward and to engage with the notch 29 tional device to a position on the right hand side of the upper edge of the trigger in which case the swivel is in a position for firing the right hand barrel. These operations of the several parts are repeated when the trigger is pulled for firing the right hand barrel. When the safety device is set for firing the right hand barrel, these foregoing operations are repeated and then the left hand barrel may be fired. The sole purpose of the weight 27 is toprevent what is known as double firing, that is to say such firing that will give the impression that only a single barrel has been fired. In further words, the firing of both barrels will be so close together that one cannot be distinguished from the other. Furthermore, the weight 27 also prevents what is known as balking, that is to say, enables the swivel to change its position readily and thereby prevent balking.

In Fig. 11 a view is disclosed showing the position of the arm 23 in engagement with the upper notch 28 showing the position of the weight at the time the trigger is pulled and at the time the weight 27 oscillates forward in engagement with the extremityof the arm 23 so as to hold the arm 23 up. As before tated, as the pressure on the trigger is gradually released, the extremity of the arm 23 moves over'the enlargement 27 of the weight so as to engage the lower notch 29 as in Fig. 12. This action occurs when the weight oscillates backwardly on the rebound. 1t is to be noted that at this point of the operation, pressure upon the trigger is not entirely released, therefore, when the weight 27 again moves forward the extremity of the arm 23 will lie in the notch 29, and prevent the swivel from changing its position so that its anti-frictional device will engage on the right h and side of the upper edge ofthe trigger. safety device is set at safety it pushes downwardly on the trigger and in this case the sear operating swivel is free to oscillate so that it can be set or oscillated to either side of the upper edge of the trigger. After both barrels have been fired, the arm 23 moved to a downward position below the position it assumes when its extremity,

When the p trigger will be tightened in the finger of the operator and thus bring the arm 23 again into engagement with the upper notch 28, but will not be held up a second time during the rebound pull and hence will fall down to a position adjacent the foot of the weight or rather the lower end of the weight.

As shown in the drawings, particularly in Fig. 3, the breech casing has a recess 39 for the reception of a member 2-". The usual breech lock 2 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and the upper end of this breech lock has a shoulder 2 The member 2 is mounted in the groove or slot 39 in a position intermediate the end of the slide 38 and the shoulder 2 of the breech lock, so that in case the breech of the gun is unlocked, and broken for the purpose of reloading, the lock when rotating will cause the member 2* to move backward and operate the slide 38 thereby reseating the slide at safety hence preventing accidental operation of the trigger mechanism.

T he invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In a trigger mechanism and lock therefor, a breech casing, right and left hammers mounted" therein, spring tensioned sears for retaining the hammers in cocked positions, a fulcrumed swivel positioned to engage on either side of a trigger for actuating either of said sears, and a single trigger for actuating the swivel to fire first one and then the other of said hammers.

'2. In a trigger mechanism and lock therefor, a breech casing, right and left hammers mounted therein, spring tensioned sears for retaining the hammers in cocked positions, a fulcrumed swivel positioned to engage on either side of a trigger for actuating either of'said. sears, and a single trigger for actuating the swivel to fire first one and then the other of said hammers, and means for tensioning the swivel, whereby it may operate on either side of the trigger.

3. In a trigger mechanism and lock therefor, a breech casing, right and left hammers mounted therein, spring tensioned sears for retaining the hammers in cocked positions, a fulcrumed swivel positioned to engage on either side of a trigger for actuating either of said sears, and a single trigger for actuating the swivel to fire first one and then the other of said hammers, means for tensioning the swivel, whereby it may operate on either side of the trigger, and means to be disposed in a neutral position for engagement with apart of the trigger for preventing movement thereof, and holding the swivel centrally of the trigger, thereby preventing the trigger from being accidentally actuated.

4. In a trigger mechanism and look theregamma for, a breech casing, right and left ham- Iners mounted therein, spring tensioned sears for retaining the hammers in proper positions, a single trigger mounted in the breech casing, a'swivel member pivotally mounted in the casing for positioning a part thereof on either side of the trigger, whereby upon the actuation of the trigger the swivel member may actuate one or the other of said sears for releasing and permitting one of the hammers to operate.

5. In a trigger mechanism and look therefor, a breech casing, right and left hammers mounted therein, spring tensioned sears for retaining the hammers in proper positions, a single trigger mounted in the breech casing, a swivel member pivotally mounted in the casing for positioning a part thereof on either side of the trigger, whereby upon the actuation of the trigger the swivel member may actuate one or the other of said sears for releasing and permitting one of the hammers to operate, and means for setting the swivel member in position relatively to either side of the trigger.

6. In a trigger mechanism and lock therefor, a breech casing, right and left hammers mounted therein, spring tensioned sears for retaining the hammers in proper positions, a single trigger mounted in the breech casing, aswivel member pivotally mounted in the casing for positioning a part thereof on either side of the trigger, whereby upon the actuation of the trigger the swivel member may actuate one or the other of said sears for releasing and permitting one of the hammers to operate, means for setting the swivel member in position relatively to either side of the trigger, and a safety device to be either actuated to engage and hold the trigger from being operated, or actuated for causing said setting means to set the swivel member to either side of the trigger.

7. Ina trigger mechanism and look therefor, a breech casing, right and left hammers mounted therein, spring tensioned sears for retaining the hammers in proper positions, a single trigger mounted in the breech casing, a swivel member pivotally mounted in the casing for positioning a part thereof on either side of the trigger, whereby upon the actuation of the trigger the swivel member may actuate one or the other of said sears for releasing and permitting one of the hammers to operate, means for setting the swivel member in position relatively to either side of the trigger, and a safety device to be either actuated to engage and hold the trigger from being operated, or actuated for causing said setting means to set the swivel member to either side of the trigger, and means for adjusting the safety device to neutral position or to osition for firing either one of the barre s of the gun. I

in the casing for positioning a part thereof on either side of the trigger, whereby upon the actuation of the trigger the swivel member may actuate one or the other of said sears for releasing and permitting one of the hammers to operate, means for setting the swivel member in position relatively to either side of the trigger, and a safety device to be either actuated to engage and hold the trigger from bein 0 erated or actuated for causino said.

setting means to set the swivel member to either side of the trigger, means for adjusting the safety device to neutral position or to position for firing either one of the barrels of the gun, and means for holding the adjusting means in different adjusted positions, and means for indicating whetheror not the safety device is set for neutral or for firing either one of the barrels of the gun.

9. In a trigger mechanism and lock therefor for double barrel firing arms, a breech casing, right and left hammers mounted in said casing for said barrels, a single trigger operating means for permitting one or the other of the hammers to actuate, said means including a single trigger and a member pivotally mounted in the casing for position on either side of the trigger, said member having an antifrictional device cooperating with the trigger to permit freedom of movement thereof, a safety lever for locking the trigger in neutral position, and means adapted to be put under tension by the safety lever for moving a part of the swivel member to either side of the trigger, wherethe swivel member may actuate its mechanism for releasing either one of the hammers.

10. In a trigger mechanism and lock therefor for double barrel firing arms, a breech casing, right and left hammers mounted in said casing for said barrels, a single trigger operating means for permitting one or the other of the hammers to. actuate, said means including a single trigger and a member pivotally mounted in the casing for position on either side of the trigger, said member having an antifrictional device cooperating with the trigger to permit freedom of movement thereof, a safety lever for locking the trigger in neutral position, and means adapted to be put under tension by the safety lever for moving a part of the swivel member to either side of the trigger, whereby the swivel member may actuate its mechanism for releasing either of the hammers, a slide for adjusting the safety lever to neutral locked position with the trigger, or in a position to actuate the swivel member to either side of the trigger.

ll. In a trigger mechanism and look therefor for double barrel firing arms, a, breech casing, right and left hammers mounted in said casing for said barrels, a single trigger operating means for permitting one or the other of the hammers to actuate, said means including a single trigger and member pivotally mounted in the casing for position on either side of the trigger, said member having an antifrictional device co'oiperating with the trigger to permit freedom of movement thereof, a safety lever for locking the trigger in neutral position, and means adapted to be put under tension by the safety lever for moving a part of the swivel member to either side of the trigger, whereby the swivel member may actuate its mechanism for releasing either of the hammers, a slide for adjusting the safety lever to a neutral locked position with the trigger,

or in a position to actuate the swivel member to either side of the trigger, and means fonholding the slide in different adjusted posltions. 12. In a trigger mechanism and lock therefor for double barrel firing arms, a breech casing, right and left hammers mounted in said casing for said barrels, a single trigger operating means for permitting one or the other of the hammers to actuate, said means including a single trigger and a member pivotally mounted in the casing for position on either side of the trigger, said member having an antifrictional device cooperating with the trigger to permit freedom of movement thereof, a safety lever for locking the trigger in neutral position, means adapted to be put under tenslon by the safety lever for moving a part of the swivel member to either side of the trigger,

whereby the swivel member may actuate its mechanism for releasing either of the ham mcrs, a slide for adjusting the safety lever to a neutral position with the trigger, or

in a position to actuate the swivel member to either s1de of the trlgger, and means for holding the sllde in different ad usted positions, and means for indicating whether the lide is in neutral, or in posltion lndicating whether or not the trigger may actuate the swivel member for either the right or the left hand barrel.

13. In a trigger mechanism and lock therefor, operating sears, a swivel for actuating either sear, a trigger therefor, and loosely mounted" means oscillatable forwardly upon a pull on the trigger and the jar of the gun and oscillatable backwardly upon the rebound and being cooperatively connected with the swivel acting to prevent the swivel from changing its position relatively to the trigger until pressure i re lieved on the trigger thereby preventing double firing.

14.-. In a trigger mechanism, hammer operating sears, a swivel for operating either the swivel for actuating either Sear, a pivoted member, and loosely mounted means operated by the trigger to a position in the path of said pivoted member, which upon the pull of the trigger and the jar of the gunoscillates forward in engagement with said means and upon the rebound oscillates backwardly, said pivoted member having means to be engaged by the trigger actuated means so that when thetrigger tightens in the finger of the operator, the swivel is prevented from oscillating to the other side of thetrigger thereby preventing double firing.

1.6. In a trigger mechanism, hammer operating sears, a swivel to actuate either one of the sears, a trigger for the swivel, a pivoted member loosely movable caused by the rebound and forward movement of the gun, an oscillatory arm adapted to be actuated by the trigger when the swivel is actuated so that when the trigger is pulled the member oscillates forward and is provided with means engaging the extremity'of the arm to hold the same up, said pivoted member upon the 'reboundand when pressure on the trigger is partially relieved adapted to oscillate backward, said member at its lower portion being engaged by the extremity of the arm, while partial pressure is still urged on the tri ger thereby preventing the swivel from c anging its position relatively to the trigger on the other side thereof and therevided with means engaging the extremity of the arm to hold the same up, said pivoted member upon the rebound and when pressure on the trigger is partially relieved adapted to oscillate backward, said member at its lower portion being engaged by the extremity of the arm, while partial pres sure is still urged on the trigger thereby preventing the swivel from changing its position relatively to the trigger on the other side thereof and thereby preventing double firing, and means for setting the swivel relatively to the trigger.

18. In a trigger mechanism, hammer operating sears, a swivel to actuate eitherone of the scars, a trigger for the swivel, a pivoted member, an oscillatory arm adapted to be actuated by the trigger when the swivel is actuated so that when the trigger is pulled the member oscillates forward and is provided with means engaging the extremity of the arm to hold the same up, said pivoted member upon the rebound and when pressure on the trigger is partially relieved adapted to oscillate backward, said member at its lower portion being engaged by the extremity of the arm, while partial pressure is still urged on the trigger thereby preventingthe swivel from changing its position relatively tolthe trigger onthe other I side thereofand thereby preventing double firing, and means for setting the swivel relatively to the trigger, and means actuated by the breech lock of the gun for returnin the swivel setting means from its position indimting the left hand barrel to its neutral or safety position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

' ELMER E. MILLER. 

